Home care company expands geographic reach with acquisition

Best of Care Inc., a Quincy-based home care firm, has acquired Boston-based Independence Home Care. The merger boosts Best of Care’s resources across Eastern Massachusetts from the North Shore to Cape Cod, serving a total of 115 towns. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Both firms are privately held, family run businesses. Independence Home Care was just four years old, and its founders, Joan Farahmand and Patrick O’Connell, approached Best of Care about a potential acquisition. Best of Care will take on 30 new employees from IHC.

Best of Care, launched in 1981, is owned by Stephen Smith and his son, Kevin. The company provides services including personal care services, homemakers and companions, hospice care, private nursing, nursing care management and specialty services for patients with dementia, mental illness and acquired brain injury care.

“According to recent data from the University of Massachusetts, one in five of the state’s residents is over 60 years of age, and 14 percent are over 65,” Stephen Smith said in a statement. “To help our state’s aging and disabled residents remain at home, specialized care may be necessary that’s not always covered by Medicare or Medicaid.”

Best of Care clients pay for services through their health insurance, long-term care insurance plan or other private resources.

The two parties said services to IHC clients will continue uninterrupted during the integration of the companies’ in September and October.